Package-fastener.



UNITED lSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

PACKAGE-FASTEN ER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1905.

Application filed November 12, 1904. Serial No. 232,499.

T0 (LZ/ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH C. CoNDo, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alexandria, in the county of Madison and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Package-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists of a simple fastener for closing packages, such as envelops or the like, and is designed to obviate the present method of closing such packages by sealing mucilaged flaps. The fastener is a substitute for the mucilage used on liaps of envelops or similar holders and does away with the disagreeable licking commonly practiced and disadvantages arising from loss of time in sponging or inoistening the flap.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

Vnile the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departing from the spirit or essential features thereof, still some of the preferred embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a plan view showing the invention applied to an envelop, the latter being shown unfolded or flat. Fig.. 2 is a perspective view of an envelop closed. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view showing the parts of the invention several times enlarged to bring out clearly the exact construction thereof. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the parts of the fastener combined and alone. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a modified form of tongue-plate.

Correspondingand like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

It is obvious that the substitute fastener, such as has been above described, must be very inexpensive and at the same time afford a closure which is virtually equivalent from the standpoint of safety as are those now in use. The invention effectually accomplishes the necessary result, and, specifically describing the same, the numeral l in the drawings designates the envelop or package proper. This envelop is of the usual type,

and the body of the same comprises the front 2, the side flaps 3, the bottom fiap 4, and the top or closing flap 5. The fastener consists of a tongue carried by the top flap and a keeper suitably applied to the body of the envelop, so as to be engaged by the tongue to afford a seal. Auxiliary flaps 6 are formed with the closing-flap 5 of the envelop, and

these flaps are adapted to fold upon the inner side of the flap 5, so as to inclose a plate 7 of angular form, the tongue 8, above mentioned, being proj ected from this plate. The plate 7 is provided with a plurality of openings 9,which receive sealing material, securing the flap 6 to the fiap 5 and reinforce the securance of the plate 7. The tongue 8 is integral with the plate 7 and is provided with a nib or proj ection 10 at its outer end. The keeper mentioned above, which cooperates with the tongue 8, is preferably secured to the bottom flap 4, and for this purpose an auxiliary flap 11 is formed, with the part 4 at the lower extremity of this part, (see Fig. 1,) this flap 11 being adapted to fold upon the flap 4 and secure the keeper thereto. The keeper consists of a plate 12, through which extends a sleeve or socket 13, the latter preferably integral with the plate 12 and having an opening 14 through one side thereof to receive the tongue 8. The plate 12 is likewise provided with an opening 15, so that when the fiap 11 is folded upon the flap 4 with the keeper between said parts portions of said flaps may be united by adhesive material through said opening and the keeper will be held more firmly in place. The fiap 4 is provided with a small opening 16 adjacent the portion thereof from which the flap 11 is projected, and this opening registers with the opening 14 of the sleeve or socket 13. The opening 16 admits of passage of the tongue 8 into the sleeve 13 when the package is being closed, the projection 10 of said tongue being adapted to interlock with the extremity of the sleeve 13 after the tongue has been introduced therein.

The tongue 8 is made of spring metal preferably, whereas the keeper is made from light metal, admitting of flattening or pressing the sleeve 13 after the tongue 8 has been introduced into this part. In using the closing device, the contents of the envelop having been placed therein, the flap 5 is folded down upon the body of the receptacle in the usual manner. The tongue 8 is now inserted into the sleeve or socket 13 through the communicating openings 16 and 14, the projections 10 interlocking with the sleeve, as shown in Fig. 3. This having been done, slight pressure is applied just above the tongue and sleeve parts, so that the latter will be compressed or iiattened and caused to more effectually prevent the tongue 8 from being displaced.

I-Iaving thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In combination, a package embodying the flaps 4 and 5, the auxiliary flap 11 upon the fiap 4, the auxiliary Iiaps 6 for the flap 5, a keeper comprising the plate 12 and the sleeve 13 extended therefrom and provided with an opening at a point between its ends, the auxiliary flap 11 being folded upon the flap 4 so asto entirely inclose the keeper aforesaid, the fiap 4 being provided with an opening registering with the opening in the sleeve of the keeper,the angular plate 7 disposed upon the flap 5 and having the Haps 6 folded therefrom, the tongue 8 proj ecting from the plate 7, and the projection 10 of the tongue 8 adapted to be engaged with an end of the sleeve 13 upon introduction of said tongue 8 into the sleeve.

2. In combination, a package or envelop embodying top and bottom flaps, auxiliary 'liaps projecting from the said top and bottom iiaps and adapted to be folded upon and secured to the respective flaps carrying the same, a keeper between the bottom flap. and its auxiliary flap and consisting of a plate formed with a sleeve provided with an opening in the side thereof, said bottom flap being provided with an opening communicating with the opening in the sleeve, a plate secured between the top flap and the auxiliary flaps and having a tongue-projected therefrom, and a projection or nib extended from said tongue and adapted to interlock in the sleeve of the keeper aforesaid.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH C. CONDO. [L. s] 

